Undergraduate Students

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at UMass Amherst is home to 3,500 undergraduate majors. The curriculum provides a framework for students to gain knowledge about individuals, societies and cultures. It offers exposure to diverse cultural perspectives essential to understanding contemporary society and oneself. Such knowledge about society and its problems prepares students to be intelligent, committed citizens of the world.

Undergraduates achieve an understanding of culture, society, individual and social interaction processes, as well as methodology to measure and analyze these processes. Students anchor their knowledge in at least one discipline, but are encouraged to expand their understanding through various enriching experiences inside and outside the classroom.

SBS departments and programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts include Anthropology, Communication, Economics, Journalism, Legal Studies, Political Science, Resource Economics, Social Thought and Political Economy (STPEC), and Sociology. Through Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning (LARP) students can receive the Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture or Environmental Design. Minors are available in many of these programs. In addition, numerous departments, programs and centers within the College offer certificates. Go to Degrees & Programs to learn more.

To prepare individuals to be intelligent and committed citizens of the world who understand contemporary society and themselves, the curriculum provides exposure to diverse cultural perspectives. The College’s Global Education Requirement provides a framework for students to learn about individuals, societies and cultures. Generally, study of a foreign language is combined with related cultural courses that focus on contemporary topics.

All majors within the College support departmental or interdisciplinary honors programs. Students can also enrich their educational experience by taking advantage of course offerings at Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, and Mount Holyoke colleges through the Five College Interchange. Additionally, students are strongly encouraged to include internships and/or international study as part of their academic program. Many academic resources are available to help you navigate your undergraduate education. Take advantage of them.

SBS offers many scholarships to assist students with the expenses of study abroad and internships. A number of scholarships based on academic achievement are available as well.

SBS encourages students to meet regularly with an academic advisor. The SBS Advising Center (128 Thompson Hall) as well as faculty and staff advisors in departments are available to help students who have questions or concerns about course selection, requirements, career guidance, academic problems, and referrals.